Cold Weather Starting Tip.
Posted: Saturday, March 12, 2011
by Scott Waddle
Precision Auto Service
Cold weather is hard on our cars. Cold engines and cold cars give us the early morning shivers, fog up our windows and burn more fuel. But, did you know that most cars sold in Canada and the northern US have a block heater. Here is a tip on how to use the block heater to make life warmer and easier for you and your vehicle.
Using your block heater will allow your car to be warmed up almost instantly, and let you defrost those windows and warm yourself up fast too.
I haven't done the math to see how much electricity is costing me, compared to the fuel saved but I know the car is warmer, pollutes less and SAFER with clear windows on those cold mornings, and I get to sleep in an extra FIVE minutes!
If you are wondering if your car has a block heater, check your owner's manual, or ask your mechanic/service technician to point it out to you.
In most climates, most vehicles do not have much trouble on cold mornings, but here is a tip that will make life easier for YOU and your vehicle.
Most cars sold in Canada and the northern US have a block heater, and you may not even know about it. . Using your block heater will allow your car to be warmed up almost instantly, and let you defrost those windows and warm yourself up fast too.
As a side benefit, a warm engine uses much less fuel. So the trick I use is a programmable timer that turns on the block heater about 3 hours before I need to leave the house each morning and an extension cord with the lighted end, so I know if power is flowing or not when I go to unplug the heater each morning. If the cord is lighted, I use the timer override switch to shut off power before I unplug it, this is a safe way to do it, especially on wet days.
I haven’t done the math to see how much electricity is costing me, compared to the fuel saved but I know the car is warmer, pollutes less and SAFER with clear windows on those cold mornings, and I get to sleep in an extra FIVE minutes!
Scott Waddle is an auto mechanic and the owner of Precision Auto Services in Langley, BC. With years of technical and practical experience tucked under his belt Scott publishes a timely newsletter with tips and advice on how to get the best out of your vehicle for all the years you own. For the best advice on auto care Scott invites you to subscribe to his Auto Care Newsletter.
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